Brick-sizing machine



Nov. 29, 1927.

5. G. HAMER BRICK sIziNe MACHINE Filed April 26, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet l w M w NJ 0 an N N mw o v mm d mm ammo/4 4 Nov. 29, 1927.

S. G. HAMER BRICK SIZING MACHINE Filed April 26, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2' S. G. HAMER BRICK SIZING MACHINE Filed April 26, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 29, 1927.

S. G. HAM E R BRICK SIZING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 26, 1927 mm mm S hmwmo QM E Patented Nov. 29, 1927. V

UNITED s r s I 1,650,832 PATENTOEFICE.

SYLVESTER eoss HAMEB, on wnsr :onoA'run, PENNSYLVANIA, nssrenon or own- THIRD r0 JAMES w. EGKLEY, or wnsr DECATUR, PENNSYLVANIA.

BRICK-SIZING MACHINE.

Application filed April 26, 1927. Serial No. 186,729.

This invention relates to a machine designed primarily for sizing the stock used in the formation of fire brick. Where brick presses are used it is essential that the bulk of the stock supplied thereto be uniform to insure the production of brick of uniform size. Various means: have been provided for insuring the proper sizing of the stock but these means have heretofore been objectionable either because of the cost of operation, costof mechanism required, or of ineflicien'cy.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine for use in connection with a single brick press whereby the stock, as t is supplied to the machine, will be automat cally sized to produce mud bricks of uniform bulk to be fed into the press.

A further object is to provide sizing mechanism utilizing a form for placing the stock under pressure during the sizing operatlon, thereby causing surplus stock to exude at points Where it can be cut off so as to leave within the form the predetermined bulk of material. f

Another object is to provide a machine of this character adjustable so as to size bricks of different bulks.

With the foregoing and'other objects in view which will appear aslthe description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of. construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made with in the scope of what is claimed, without departing fromthe spirit of the invention,

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown. In said drawings, n Figure 1 is a planview of the sizing machine constitutingthe present invention. Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

ure 1.

Figure 4 is a section on line 45 4, Figure 1. j j Q Figure 5 is a section on line 5:5, Figure 1. V

Figure 6 is an enlarged section through a portion of the yieldable rack.

Figure 7 is a sectionon line 7-7, Fig ure 1. 1

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 showing the relativegpositions of the parts immediately following the sizing and with drawal of the bulk material.

Figure 9 is a section similarto Figures 7 and 8 showing the relative positions of the parts during the sizing of the bulk material. Figure 10 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of a portion of the cross headand adjacent structure showing the fiielcgllable support for one end of thecross showing amodified form of gate. I Referring to the figures by characters of reference A designates a double press provided with the usual feed table B. To the Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 9 sides of the table Bare connected the side Each of the frame members 1 is provided,

in its inner face near the'upper or top surface, with a longitudinal groove 4 and these grooves constitute guideways for the side edges of a cut oil slide 5. Secured on the side portions of thisslide are reinforcing strips 6 and these strips project at one end beyond the slide and are formed with longitudinal slots 7 in which are movably mountedpitmen 8constituting connections between the strips 6 and the mechanism of the press A. The manner of connecting the mechanism to the press constitutes, in itself. no

part of the present invention and, therefore, this connection has not been disclosed. It

is merely necessary that the movement of the slide 5 be so timed that the sized'bulk material be brought to position in the press p duringthe proper time intervals. Figure 3 1s a section on hne 3--3, F g- The slide 5 has a depending transverse portion!) slidablv engaging the upper suralong that edge thereof remote from abut ment 10 is ashearing blade 11 the cutting edge of which is in the same plane with the top surface of the slide 5. Each reinforcing strip 6 of the slidehas a spring latch 12 projecting from one end thereof and over l.

Each standard has a' longitudinal slot 18 extending transversely. therethrough and slidable within these slots are the ends of a cross head 19. This cross head is yieldingly supported by any suitable means; For examplefa spring 20 may be arranged under each end portion of the cross head with its lower end resting on an adjusting screw 21.

See Figure '10. Thusthe cross head will be normally in elevated position and, when moved downwardly, will place the springs under compression.

"Guide plates 22 are mounted on the outer sides'of the standards 16, the ends of these plates being 'adjustably' connected to the standards by means of bolts 23 extending into longitudinal slots 24. Thus by loosening the bolts the guidesplates can be raised or lowered relative to the standards. A switch 25 in the form of 'an'elongated slide is mounted within each guide member and hasflan elongated opening 26 one end of which is preferably at right angles to'the upper and lower walls of the opening while the other end wall of the opening is inclined, as at 27 up to a slot 28'constitut-ing an extension of the upper portion of the opening. Extending across the opening 26 from the top ton-the bottom thereof and at the outer side of the switch 25is a supporting strip 29 to which is pivotally connected a switch t0ngue'30. Thisswitch tongue is so proportioned that, when supported in an intermediate position, its edges will be regularly spaced from the walls of the opening 26. Inasmuch as the tongue is pivoted at a point oil center,.one end portion thereof will normallyrest upon the bottom wall of the opening26as shown in Figure 2while the other or tapered endportion has its point 31'nor- .mallybearing upwardly against the. top wall 'of the j g 26. Pins 32 are extended from the ends of the cross head l9-and are ,adapted to travel inthe spaces between the tiltable switch tongues .30andthe wallsof the openings 26. The slots 28 are also proportioned to receive these pins. Arms33 are fixedly connected to the switch members 25 and to the strips 6 of-the-slide 5, these arms thus cooperating with the guide plates 22 to maintain the switch members25 in proper pos1tions during reciprocat on with the strips 6 and slide 5.

head 35 which can be madeof a metal'plate of suitable stiffness, of wood,-or"any other desired. .material, the longitudinal and transverse dimensions of this head being the same asthose of the sized brick. In the structure illustrated each of the form heads has an'upstanding flange 36 at each end and to each'of these flanges is adjustably connected one of the end plates 37 of the sizing form. These end plates can be slotted as shown at 38 to receive fastening bolts 39 whereby the plates, after adjustment, can be held securely to the heads of the sizing forms. The plates are to be so adjusted that; the distance from their lower edges to the lower surface of the form head 35 shall be equal to the thickness of the sized brick; It is also designed that the parts he so adjusted that, when the cross head 19 reaches the lower limitof its'lnovement, the lower edges of the end plates 37 will be in a plane where they will lightly touch or he in very close proximity to the top surface of thebladc 11 and the slide 5 during the shearing operation hereinafter explained. This adjustment of the cross head is efiected by raising and lowering the switches 25 through adjustment of the guide plates 22. I

Arranged between the ,frame members l beyond the end of the table B are rails 40 yieldingly supported by springs l1. Various constructions and arrangements of springs or the like may be employed for sup porting these rails yieldingly. One ofthese means has been illustrated in detail in Figure 6 wherein the lower portion of the spring formed with a longitudinal groove 46 and mounted to slide in these grooves are flanges extending laterally as at 47 from a carriage 48 mounted for reciprocation between the rails. The top surface ofthis carriage is in line with the top surface of the slide 5 and formed on the carriage are upstanding parallel partitions 49 spaced apart distances equal to thewidths of the respective forms so as to provide separate recesses 50 or the reception of the blocks of bulk material to be sized. Extending transversely of the carriage is a cross strip-.51 disposed at an angle to the top surface ofthe carriage as shown particularly in Figures 7 and 8. This cross strip, which constitutes a deflector, can be adjusted along the carriage toward and from the partitions 49. Forthis purpose brackets 52 may be employed. these brackets having bolts 53 which slide in slots 54 formed in the carriage but which can be tightened tohold the deflecting strip 51 against movement.

Adjacent each side of the carriage 48 is a coupling block 55. Ear-hot these blocks has a longitudinal rib 56 extending laterally therefrom adapted to be seated .slidably within one ofthe grooves 4. 'A pin 57 extends transversely of and inwardly from each end portion of each coupling block and these pins have depending fingers 58 extending loosely through apertures 59 in the sideportions of the carriage 48.

13 of the latch 12, said lug forming one wall of the recess 60.

Standards 62, which can he in the form of threaded posts, are extended upwardly from plates 63 lapping the sides of the frame members 1. Each of these plates is Slotted longitudinally as at 64 to receive a clamping bolt 65. A cross rod 66 is extended across the machine above the path of the slide 5 and above the table B. this rod being provided at each end with a collar 67 mounted on a post 62 and connected adjustablv thereto by nuts 68. The rod may be mounted for rotation in the end sleeves 67 in which event a gate 69 which depends from the rod may be made integral therewith. This gat constitutes means for preventing sized bricks from moving in onedirection with the slide 5 and. to insure such action. steps 70' are extended from the sleeves 67 to constitute abutments for the gate and limit its swine-- ing movement toward the carriage 48. The gate is free to swing away from the carriage, however, as when the sized material 1 is pressed thereagainst; Instead of mounting a stripping gate as described and as shown in detail in, Figure 5. said gate. as shown at 71 in Figure 11. may be mounted on arms 72 fixedly connected to and movable with the cross head 19. When mounted in this manner the gate can be adjusted vertically either by providing a vertically adjustable bolt and slot connection between each arm72 and the cross head 19 or between each arm 72 and the gate 71. Such a construction is so obvious that detailed illustration thereof is not deemed necessary.

Under normal conditions the carriage 48 is located close to the outlet end of the chute Thus it will be seen that the carriage has a limited 3, cross head 19 is elevated with the pins 32 positioned as in Figure 2 and the slide 5 beneath cross head 19. These positions have been illustrated in Figure 7.' Assuming that the parts have been adjusted to produce bricks of a predetern'iined size the attendant standing beside the machine sees that p01- tions of bulk material leaving the chute 3 arepositioned within the respective recesses 50 against the deflecting strip 51. It is of course essential that the bulk material placed in each recess be oversize. Following this operation the movement of the press mechanism will cause the pitmen 8 to pull on the strips 6. This will cause slide 5 to move along the table B from the position shown in Figure 7 to the position shown in Figure 8. At the same time the switches 25 will likewise be moved from the position shown in Figure 7 to the position shown in Figure 8. i As the latches 12 are in engagef ment with the coupling blocks 55,the carriage 48 with the bulk material thereon will travel with the slide 5until it arrives directly beneath the sizing forms made up of the heads 35 and plates 37. At this time the deflecting strip 51 will extend slightly beneath one end of the sizing forms. 'As soon as the carriage 48 reaches this position the fingers 14 ride onto the lifting cams 15 which move the heads 13 out of the recesses so that movement of the slide 5 can continue while the carriage 48 will remain under the cross head 19. At this time the pins 32 are seated in the extension slots 28, it being understood that as the pins 32 move towardthis slot they will depress the points 31 of switch tongues 30, said points thereafter shifting back to their normal positions as in Figure 8. Following the completion of this operation the slide 5 begins its return movement, the switches 25 travelling therewith. This will result in the inclined ends of the tongues'30 coming against the v pins 32 and forcing them downwardly.' Consequently the cross head 19 will move downwardly against the action of the springs 20 and the sizing forms will come against and compress the. bulk materialin the recesses 50. This bulk material will com pletely fill the spaces. defined by the sizing forms and the partitions 49 and as the downward movement of the cross head and sizing v forms is just sufficient to bring the lower edges of the plates 37 to the plane of the top of slide 5 it will be apparent that should there be anysnrplus bulk material, the same will exude under the plates 37 and at the same time press thecarriage 48 downwardly against the action of its sustaining springs 41. Immediately following this action and while the cross head is being held in lowered position by the switch tongues 30. the latch heads 13 ride over the lugs 61 and snap into the recesses 60 after which the s trips6 come against the blocks 55 and push them longitudinally. Thus the carriage 48 will be to position under the sized bricks and support them. As soon as the slide completes its movement to position under the sized bricks. the pins 32 will move past the adja;

cent ends of the switch tongues whereupon the springs 20, being released. will elevate the cross head 19 and causing the sizing forms to lift out of engagement with the sized bricks.

The operation thus far described is then repeated but it will be seen that as the slide 5 moves away from the position shown in Figures 7 and 9 the sized bricks S will travel therewith and come against the gate 69 which will swing out of the path thereof until the bricks pass the gate whereupon said gate will swing back to normal position. It might be added that during the next succeeding operation while the slide 5 is moving toward the path of the cross head 19 the sized bricks will be held against movement so that slide 5 will be withdrawn from the bricks S as they are held as shown by broken lines in Figure 9. This position of the bricks will be maintained until the slide is completely Withdrawn from under them whereupon the bricks will drop onto the table B into the path of the abutment 10.

Obviously, therefore, when the slide 5 again moves toward the press A the bricks S will be pushed in the path thereof into the press. In other words, during each movement of the slide 5 toward the press bulk material is being carried to position under the sizing forms, sized bricks are being conveyed against and past the stripping gate, and another group of sizedbricks are being pushed by the slide to the press.

hat is claimed is: s

1. A brick sizing machine including a sizing form, a yieldingly supported carriage, means for actuating the carriage to position bulk material in the path of the sizing form,

means for actuating the sizing form to compress the bulk material on the carriage,

, thereby to depress the carriage and express surplus bulk material between the carriage and the form, and means for severing the expressed bulk material from the material within the form.

2. A brick sizing machine including a sizing form, a yieldingly supported carriage for supporting bulk material in the path of the form, means for actuating the sizing form to compress the bulk material on the carriage and express surplus bulk material between the form and carriage, and means operating in timed relation with the sizing form for withdrawing the carriage from under the bulk material, severing the surplus material from the contents of the sizing form, and positioning a supporting means beneath the material in the sizing form.

3. A brick sizing machine including a sizing form, means for intermittently raising and'lowering the form a carriage for positioning bulk material in the path of the form while raised, means for supporting the carriage for yielding movement under the pressure of surplus bulk material during the movement of the sizing form toward the carriage, means for successively withdrawported carriage for positioning bulk material in the path of the form while raised, a

slide, cut off means movable therewith sub stantially in the plane of the lower edges of the sizing form, means actuated by the movement of the slide in one direction for lowering the form to compress bulk material upon the carriage and express surplus material below the edges of the form, and thereafter release the form for upward movement, and means operated by said movement of the slide for shifting the carriage from under the bulk material prior to the raising of the form, said out off means being movable with the slide during such movement to remove surplus bulk material, said slide constituting a support and carrier for the bulk material subsequent to the removal of thesurplus and to the elevation of the form.

5. A brick sizing machine including a sizing form, yielding means for holding the same normally elevated, a carriage yieldingly supported and movable into and out of position in the path of the form for supporting bulk material, a slide. means operated by the movement of the slide in one direction for shifting the sizing form to compress bulk material upon the carriage and express surplus material between the carriage and the form, said means operating to release the form upon the completion of the compressing operation for return to normal or raised position, means operated by the slide when moved in the same direction for shifting the carriage from under the compressed material prior to the release of the form, and means movable with the slide during said movement for severing the surplus bulk material prior to the release of the form, said slide constituting a support ing the carriage from the bulk material and nausea and carrier for the bulk material subse quent to the removal of the surplus and the release of the form.

6. A brick sizing 'machine including a yieldingly supported carriage, asizin g form for compressing bulk material thereon and expressing surplus material between the form and the carriage by depression of the carriage, and means for severing the surplus material along the plane of the bottom of the form. a t 1 7. A brick sizing machine including a ieldingly supported carriage, a sizing form for compressing bulk material thereon and expressing surplus material betweenthe form and the carriage by depression of'the carriage, aslide movable to position under the form to support bulk material delivered from the form, and means movable with the slide for severing surplus material along the bottom of the form in advance of the delivery of material from the form to the slide.

8. A. brick sizing machine including a yieldingly supported carriage for holding bulk material, a sizing form for compressing the bulk material upon the carriage and eX-V pressing surplus material between the form and the carriage, a reciprocating slide movable into and out of position beneath the form to receive and remove bulk material deposited by the form, means actuated by the slide for moving the carriage in advance thereof from engagement with the bulk material, and means movable with the slide and following the carriage for severing surplus bulk material from the form.

9. A brick sizing machine including a yieldingly supported carriage, a slide, means for reciprocating the slide, means actuated by the slide for moving the carriage inter mittently backwardly and forwardly, a sizing form, means actuated by the slide for shifting the form when the carriage is in one extreme position thereby to compress bulk material supported by the carriage, means for shifting the form during the movement of the slide to disengage the form from the bulk material and leave said material on the slide, and means carried by theslide for severing surplus material from the form 7 prior to disengagement of the form from the material;

10. A brick sizing machine including a bulk holding carriage, a yieldingly supported cross head, a sizing form carried by the cross head, a switch mounted for reciprocation, a tiltable tongue cooperating with the switch, projecting means on the cross head for sliding engagement with the switch and tongue, a slide, a connection between the slide and switch, and means for shifting said slide to displace the carriage and position theslide beneath the form, said switch and tongue being mounted to travel with the slide dur ing said movement to successively force the formtoward the carriage andrelease the cross head. ,7 i a, it

ll/A brick sizing machine includingia sizing'l'orm, a carriage movableinto and out ofposition thereunder, a slide, a shearing blade movable with the slide, means for reciprocating the slide, means controlled by i the slide for imparting an upland down movement to the sizing fornna latch movable withthe slide, means movable with the carriage for engagement by the latch, and means for automatically disengaging the latch during the movement of the slide and carriage in one direction, thereby to position thecarriage in the path of the sizing form during continued movement of the slide.

12. A brick sizing machine including a sizing form mounted for reciprocation, a carriage movable into and out of position in the path of the form, a slide, a shearin blade carried by the slide, means controlled by the slide for reciprocating the sizing form, said slide constituting means for shiftingthe carriage from under the form and moving the blade across the form while said form is at rest in one extreme position, and cooperating means on the slide and carriage for moving the carriage with the slide and depositing it beneath the form during the movement of the slide While the form is at rest in its other extreme position.

13. In a brick sizing machine a yieldingly supported carriage, a sizing form for com-' riage, said slide constituting means for withdrawing the bulk materlal from position bei neath the form, and a stripping gate for holding the bulk material against return movement with the slide toward the path of the form.

14. A brick sizing machine including a yieldingly supported carriage, upstanding portions thereon providing a recess for receiving bulk material, a yieldingly supported,

cross head, a sizing form carried thereby, means for shifting the cross head against the action of its supporting means to direct the form into the recess to compress and size the bulk material therein and express surplus material between the form and carriage.

15. A brick sizin machine including; a yieldingly supported? carriage, a cross head, yielding means for holding the cross head normally elevated, a sizing form movable with the cross head, means for shifting the cation, and a brick press, of a carriage for i cross head against the action of its yieldconveying bulk material into the path of the able supporting'means to compress bulk masizing form, said carriage being yieldably terial between the form and carriage and exmounted, a slide constituting means for dis- 15 '8 press surplus material by the depression of placing the carriage and receivin the sized the carriage, and means for simultaneously bulk material from the form, sal slide inhifti th carriage f th compressed eluding means for shearing surplus material material and severing the surplus material from 1311? forma f th f In testimony that I claim the foregoing as 20 16. In a brick sizing machine the combinay I have hereto "fixed y Signaturetion with a sizing form mounted for recipro- SYLVESTER GOSS HAMER. 

